Flotation device for a craft

ABSTRACT

A flotation device for craft comprises a compartment in the craft opening on the outside of the craft. A deflated balloon in the compartment is coupled to a source of compressed air. A cover on the outside of the craft encloses the compartment and is affixed to the balloon. The cover separates from the craft when the pressure on the outside thereof exceed a predetermined magnitude above atmospheric pressure thereby removing the balloon from the compartment and causing it to be filled with air from the source of compressed air to float the craft to the surface when it is in a body of water.

1 1 Apr. 1, 1975 1 1 FLOTATION DEVICE FOR A CRAFT [75] Inventor: Anthony Florio, San Francisco,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization Inc., New York, NY. a part interest [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 419,915

[52] US. Cl 9/9, 114/164, 114/54,

244/107 [51] Int. Cl B63b 21/52 [58] Field of Search 9/9, 323, 324, 325;

1 14/164, 16.8, 54, 68, 123; 102/494, 49.5; 85/1 R, 65, DIG. l;244/105, 107

[56] References Cited UN1TED STATES PATENTS 1,818,597 8/1931 Adams ct a1 244/107 2.357.417 9/1944 Marple 9/9 3.240.449 3/1966 Robinson, Jr 244/105 3,341,871 9/1967 Oliveau 9/9 3,372,996 3/1968 Barrett et a1 9/323 3,465,987 9/1969 Harmon et a1 9/9 3,669,311 6/1972 Folden, Jr. et a1 9/323 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner.lesus D. Sotelo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Daniel Jay Tick [57] ABSTRACT A flotation device for craft comprises a compartment in the craft opening on the outside of the craft. A deflated balloon in the compartment is coupled to a source of compressed air. A cover on the outside of the craft encloses the compartment and is affixed to the balloon. The cover separates from the craft when the pressure on the outside thereof exceed a predetermined magnitude above atmospheric pressure thereby removing the balloon from the compartment and causing it to be filled with air from the source of compressed air to float the craft to the surface when it is in a body of water.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures n-mmgmm 1197s 3.874.012

EXPLODABLE BOLTS HATCH COVER PULLS AWAY H AFTER sous EXPLODE CHAIN FROM TOP OF BALLOON TO HATCH COVER AlR CYLINDER 5 FIG. 2

FLOTATION DEVICE FOR A CRAFT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a flotation device for a craft.

Objects of the invention are to provide a flotation device for a craft which is simple in structure, inexpensive in manufacture and readily installable on new and existing craft, which functions efficiently,'effcctively and reliably to raise any type of craft such as, for example, an aircraft, a boat or a submarine. which has crashed into the sea. to the surface thereof.

ln order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the flotation device of the invention is raising an aircraft which has crashed in the sea; and

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, of an embodiment of the flotation device of the invention in its housed condition.

The flotation device of the invention is for a craft of any type such as, for example, an aircraft, a boat, a submarine. or the like. which may crash or sink beneath the surface of a large body of water such as, for example, the sea.

As shown in H6. 2, a compartment 1 is provided in the craft 2 and opens on the outside 3 of the craft. A deflated balloon 4 is provided in the compartment 1. A source of compressed air 5 such as, for example, an air cylinder. is coupled to the balloon.

A cover 6 on the outside 3 of the craft 2 encloses the compartment 1. The cover is affixed to the craft 2 by any suitable means which responds to a pressure greater than a predetermined magnitude. Thus, for example. the cover 6 may be affixed to the craft 2 by bolts 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. 2, which explode at a predetermined magnitude of pressure. Explosive bolts are available from E. l. du Pont de Nemours and Company under the name Du Pont Explosive Releases and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,996, Column 3, lines LII The cover 6 is affixed to the balloon 4 by any suitable means such as, for example, a chain 9 (FIG. 2). The cover 6 separates from the craft 2 when the pressure on the outside 3 thereof exceeds a predetermined magnitude above atmospheric pressure thereby removing the balloon 4 from the compartment 1 and causing it to be filled with air from the source of compressed air 5. The inflated balloon 4 then floats the craft 2 to the surface 10, as shown in FIG. 1, when the craft is in a body of water 11.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A flotation device for a craft, comprising a compartment in the craft opening on the outside of the craft;

a deflated balloon in the compartment;

a source of compressed air coupled to the balloon;

and

a cover on the outside of the craft enclosing the compartment and affixed to the craft by bolts which explode at a predetermined magnitude of pressure, said cover being affixed to the balloon and separating from the craft when the pressure on the outside thereof exceeds the predetermined magnitude above atmospheric pressure thereby removing the balloon from the compartment and causing it to be filled with air from the source of compressed air to float the craft to the surface when it is in a body of water.

2. A flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the craft is an aircraft.

3. A flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the craft is a boat.

4. A flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the craft is a submarine,

* l= l l 

1. A flotation device for a craft, comprising a compartment in the craft opening on the outside of the craft; a deflated balloon in the compartment; a source of compressed air coupled to the balloon; and a cover on the outside of the craft enclosing the compartment and affixed to the craft by bolts which explode at a predetermined magnitude of pressure, said cover being affixed to the balloon and separating from the craft when the pressure on the outside thereof exceeds the predetermined magnitude above atmospheric pressure thereby removing the balloon from the compartment and causing it to be filled with air from the source of compressed air to float the craft to the surface when it is in a body of water.
 2. A flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the craft is an aircraft.
 3. A flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the craft is a boat.
 4. A flotation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the craft is a submarine. 